Saturday, May 28, 2011

Well I didn't see that coming. Jaime Garcia entered play today with a 1.93 ERA and he exited in the fourth inning with a 3.28 ERA. Yes, the Rockies plated 12 runs (11 earned) on this season's version of Ubaldo Jimenez while in the midst of maybe the most extensive and infuriating offensive slump we've seen them have in 18+ years.

And they did it in support of Juan Nicasio -- a kid with an electronic fastball, solid changeup and developing breaking stuff -- making his major league debut against the hottest offense in the National League. He didn't need that much support. He was brilliant, allowing one run (unearned) over seven innings, and actually made a lot more quality pitches than I expected him to.

It was a lot of fun to watch. Hopefully we only saw a small sample of what this kid will offer as he continues developing some of those secondary pitches. Very impressive debut.

Now back to the offense.

First of all, Eric Young leads off the game with a single and STEALS A BASE. I almost stopped watching right there so I could leave with a positive visual. But it only got better as Dexter Fowler followed with a 10-pitch walk after being behind in the count 0-2.

Those two plate appearances are textbook for table setters. Patience, contact, speed. It provided the middle of the order a solid foundation to build from against an all-star pitcher. And then Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton each followed with singles to plate those two runs and load the bases. Great start.

Ty Wigginton then struck out. Ho hum.

But that set up maybe the most important at-bat of the game. Ryan Spiborghs didn't allow the offensive momentum to fizzle out. Instead he worked a 7-pitch walk for an easy RBI and to keep the line moving. The Rockies would tack on three more thanks to a Chris Iannetta two-run single and an Eric Young RBI single.

6-0.

Spilborghs had another outstanding at-bat in 2nd, singling home one with two outs. He then tripled home two in the 4th. Chris Iannetta cleaned up again with a two-run homer right after.

12-0

Iannetta would hit another two-run homer in the 8th, giving him a career high two home runs, four hits and six RBI. That's definitely worthy of player of the game, yet I think we need to cut that into thirds because Spilborghs and Nicasio deserve a piece of the pie as well.

Any way you slice it, it was a much needed performance for several players and the team as whole. Maybe THIS will be the start of something good. Maybe all the frustration has come to a head and burst.

Maybe not. We've seen the Rockies breakout before, only to follow up with more of the same. Guess we just have to tune in again tomorrow to see where we go from here.

If you're looking for Rockies game lineups and you don't feel like searching all over Twitter or waiting for MLB.com to post them, check back to Heaven & Helton about 60-90 minutes before first pitch. They should be here waiting for you.

-- Ubaldo Jimenez was bad again. He had one good inning in the 4th or 5th that gave me reason for some hope, but it fell apart again quickly after. It's not good, folks. It's not good at all. It's not going to work.

-- The Rockies had five hits and three runs through three innings. None of either in the final six. Yeah, that's not going to work.

-- I will be curious to see who's in center field tomorrow. If it's Eric Young again it will be obvious Dexter Fowler is the Rockie currently out of favor with Jim Tracy. Maybe it already is obvious. If that's the case. If that's where the Rockies were looking to upgrade, why not bring in Charlie Blackmon? Move Gonzalez to center. Let Blackmon play a corner. That COULD work, actually.

Maybe there's a clause in Gonzalez's new contract that says the Rockies owe him eleventy billion dollars if he plays one inning in center. I'm only kidding. I think.

Anyway, I know you want EY's speed in the lineup and he's a legit lead-off guy, but the problem is you're sticking an infielder in center field at Coors Field. That's not going to work. We saw why on this play right here. (Watch)

Ty Wigginton's lousy tag attempt won't work either.

-- Hat tip to Bruce Billings for his making his major league debut. He allowed five hits and one run over his two innings. Nothing special you'd say, but he did induce two double play balls, including one from Albert Pujols. So that's pretty cool.

Wherever Jose Lopez ends up, he'll hit three home runs in his first game there. No question about it.

-- Juan Nicasio makes his major league debut on Saturday evening. I'm definitely interested to see what the kid has, but I'm honestly concerned for his baseball life. The Cardinals are on fire offensively. It just doesn't add up to a positive result on paper. Hopefully it adds up better on the field.